Student suspended for creating a anti bullying video
Started by
Geminimoon
, May 23 2012 01:47 PM
40 replies to this topic
#1
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 01:47 PM
http://www.nbcnewyor...-152591225.html
L.I. Teen Suspended Over Anti-Bullying Video That Fakes Suicide
Superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer said Tuesday that the video was "unfortunate in that it created a substantial disruption to the school"
A Long Island high school student has been suspended for five days after she created an anti-bullying video featuring a fictitious suicide for a class project and posted it online.
Jessica Barba, 15, shot the six-minute video for an assignment in her business and communications class at Longwood High School. She says she had been asked to create a persuasive promo or advertisement.
In the video, Barba plays a girl who is regularly bullied, falls into a depression, is taunted on social media sites and eventually kills herself.
Statements at the beginning and the end say it is fictitious.
Barba, who said she enjoys creating music and other videos, posted her school project on YouTube and Facebook May 15. The next day, the student said, students were already talking about it at school and some were even moved to tears.
"I was asked to go to the office and I thought they were going to pat me on the back for the job I did on the video," Barba said. "Instead, the principal told me I would be suspended for five days because my video disrupted the school."
Superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer said Tuesday that the video was "unfortunate in that it created a substantial disruption to the school."
For the video, Barba created a fake Facebook page for her character, and even though it was noted that the page was not real, a parent saw the video, became alarmed and called the police. Barba claims she gave up the password to the fake Facebook page after the assistant principal asked her for it, but the school denies that.
"All I know is," Barba said, " when I went back to re-log in again, I was blocked and now the page has been taken down."
According to Barba, school officials suggested she remove the video from the web because that would help soften the blow of her punishment. But when she was suspended for five days, she posted the video back online.
"I hope the school realizes this is wrong because all I wanted to do was highlight an important issue," said Barba. "Maybe this video will make a difference in the way kids see things."
Barbra cannot return to school until after a hearing.
Barba's father, Michael, said he's proud of his daughter and he hopes the school will let her return.
I think the video is very well done. The girl put a lot of thought and effort into the project. In my opinion I do not see why the girl was suspended for this project. She clearly states that this is a fictional story.
#9
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 01:59 PM
School officials.
I love how they are hiding behind "student privacy" and not answering the question from the reporters about why they suspended the girl.
If the tables were turned you know they would be on a soap box and using the media so that all may hear what they had to say.
#12
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 02:06 PM
I posted her video on my facebook page and hope all my friends watch it and do the same to help spread the message about what has happened to this smart and talented young lady.
I also hope more young kids watch it and learn something from it.
As a teacher I would give this girl an A for her project and tell her to use it as an example of her work for college applications.
I also hope more young kids watch it and learn something from it.
As a teacher I would give this girl an A for her project and tell her to use it as an example of her work for college applications.
#17
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 02:43 PM
i really dont understand how this girl could be suspended... sounds like a crappy principal to me, i think he should be suspended
That is the big question.... "Superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer told WNBC New York on Tuesday that Jessica’s video, posted online on May 15, was "unfortunate in that it created a substantial disruption to the school."
The disruption was from the parents jumping the gun and not checking something out completely before sounding the alarm.
#20
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- VibeGuide
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- 6,539 posts
VibeGuide
Posted 23 May 2012 - 03:11 PM
I agree.... Those parents should have to answer to why they did not read the facebook page completely and thoroughly before reporting it and causing this girl so much trouble.
I don't know. The parent saw something that raised an alarm about both bullying and suicide and reported it to officials. I would think that is much better than not raising an alarm. "If you see something, say something" has become a modern mantra.
As for reading thoroughly prior to reporting, that seems to be the norm. Just look around here, take Nikkiblues job thread. Several people posted in the thread saying "I only read the first post, but here is my opinion"...
#21
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 04:23 PM
In this story http://www.wpix.com/...0,1087051.story
they make note of a possible suspension for the rest of the year, and into next year.
they make note of a possible suspension for the rest of the year, and into next year.
#22
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 04:36 PM
I don't know. The parent saw something that raised an alarm about both bullying and suicide and reported it to officials. I would think that is much better than not raising an alarm. "If you see something, say something" has become a modern mantra. As for reading thoroughly prior to reporting, that seems to be the norm. Just look around here, take Nikkiblues job thread. Several people posted in the thread saying "I only read the first post, but here is my opinion"...
The problem is that because they did not get all the information before going to the proper authorities this girl is being punished.
You should always report abuse of any kind. I am a big advocate for that.
But if you are reading something then you should read it all the way through to ensure you know what you are talking about.
#23
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 04:38 PM
I don't know. The parent saw something that raised an alarm about both bullying and suicide and reported it to officials. I would think that is much better than not raising an alarm. "If you see something, say something" has become a modern mantra. As for reading thoroughly prior to reporting, that seems to be the norm. Just look around here, take Nikkiblues job thread. Several people posted in the thread saying "I only read the first post, but here is my opinion"...
I agree. If I saw what looked like one of my kids or their schoolmates being bullied I would raise alarms immediately. What's troubling here is the schools response.
#25
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 04:47 PM
"If you see something, say something" has become a modern mantra.
i get that in reference to possible bombs on subways and in airports, but I'd like to think that a parent woul;d review the entire situation and get the facts straight when it comes to something like this.
But I also agree with Jay, it's the school's response that I have issue with here, moreso. There will always be illogical parents, nothing will ever change that.
"disruption to school" is not enough of an answer from the school. and the punishment certainly doesn't fit the bill.
oh, and since i missed it last time: lolLongIsland.
#26
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- VibeGuide
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VibeGuide
Posted 23 May 2012 - 04:55 PM
But I also agree with Jay, it's the school's response that I have issue with here, moreso. There will always be illogical parents, nothing will ever change that. "disruption to school" is not enough of an answer from the school. and the punishment certainly doesn't fit the bill. oh, and since i missed it last time: lolLongIsland.
I completely agree with this. I don't think the issue is the person who raised the alarm. The issue is with the investigation and results/reaction that followed.
The schools reaction to the report and investigation really should have been: "oh, it is a school project and was so wonderfully done she received an A. We will be showing to all students at an assembly and sending it out to the other schools in the city."
Also:
if the school officials thought the video was a disruption to the school, I will guarantee their reaction/suspension will be a MUCH bigger disruption
Her being suspended changed her video from a school project to be seen by hundreds and launched it into the national limelight where millions will be seeing it. She should be very proud (and have her suspension overturned)
#29
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 08:04 PM
this is a great video, and its terrible that school officials care more about keeping the students in line and things running smoothly, than to let a student educate other students.
As someone who was bullied and hazed severley in military school (thrown in a trash can and pushed down a flight of stairs....thrown out a window...blasted in the face with a combination lock on graduation day, whipped with a wire hanger), I can attest to how frightening and lonely it can be. I also learned that THAT is when you must love and defend yourself. Otherwise, you start to believe what all the bullys say, and by then its a bit hard to climb out of the swamp of self-pity and self-hatred.
I hope the school reconsiders it's position, anyone watching this can't help but be moved.
As someone who was bullied and hazed severley in military school (thrown in a trash can and pushed down a flight of stairs....thrown out a window...blasted in the face with a combination lock on graduation day, whipped with a wire hanger), I can attest to how frightening and lonely it can be. I also learned that THAT is when you must love and defend yourself. Otherwise, you start to believe what all the bullys say, and by then its a bit hard to climb out of the swamp of self-pity and self-hatred.
I hope the school reconsiders it's position, anyone watching this can't help but be moved.
#30
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 08:41 PM
This is Long Island so my guess is that the law suits may fly. I'm not an advocate, and as a teacher I'm not big on this option, but take the school to court. Combine the assignment that was given and the disclaimers clearly shown in the video... they don't have a leg to stand on...of course the asshat of a principal might just fire the teacher if that happened, but what the hell. This kid did a great job with a sensitive issue. The school could have made this a lesson worth learning, but instead made fools of themselves. This is going on my F&ckbook page right now!
#33
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 10:04 PM
I heard there's going to be a hearing on this w/the school board either tonight or tomorrow. I haven't seen a single post anywhere of anyone coming to the school's defense. Very rare when the entire interwebs comes out against ya. The only way the school can save face now would be to remove the suspension from the girls record and allow her to turn in her project.
Of course, people can be stubborn. And once a decision has been made then that's the decision and you can't change it. It's entirely possible that the school board will defend its principal and his decision to suspend a student.
We shall see how this all turns out soon 'nuff.
Of course, people can be stubborn. And once a decision has been made then that's the decision and you can't change it. It's entirely possible that the school board will defend its principal and his decision to suspend a student.
We shall see how this all turns out soon 'nuff.
#35
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- VibeTribe
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- LocationShoreline, CT
Posted 24 May 2012 - 01:32 AM
business and communications class at Longwood High School. She says she had been asked to create a persuasive promo or advertisement.
I'd give her an A+. She succeeded beyond all expectations.
And a bag of poo on the principal's desk for being a no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit.
#37
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 03:32 PM
SUSPENSION LIFTED!!!
Emerging from a meeting with her parents and Longwood school district officials Thursday morning, 15-year-old Jessica Barba said her controversial suspension over an anti-bullying video had been lifted and that she was returning to classes.
Barba, speaking outside the district offices in Middle Island, said the suspension would be removed from her school record and that she will be back at Longwood High School, starting with her second-period science class later in the morning.
Barba said she had no regrets over her video and no hard feelings toward school officials.
"It's a good school, and they took a wrong and turned it into a right," she said.
"All I wanted was to go back to school and my friends and hand in my project."
Standing beside her, her father, Michael, called himself "the proudest father in the world."
The Barbas did not say if the school district apologized. Michael Barba said only that there were "more pressing" matters school officials were dealing with that led to confusion. He did not elaborate.
Longwood High School officials referred questions to the school district. Myra Vaughn, a spokeswoman for the district, declined to confirm whether Barba had been reinstated or whether the district felt it could have handled the matter differently. She said she could not comment about matters involving a child.
Jessica, her mother, Jody, and her father arrived at the school district office in Middle Island shortly after 7 a.m. without speaking to a group of reporters, who were waiting outside the building.
The fictional video, which ends with a student committing suicide over being bullied, was posted May 15 on YouTube. After complaints to school officials by at least one parent, Barba was suspended from school for one week on May 17.
On Wednesday, after appearing on the "Today" show with his wife and daughter, Michael Barba told Newsday of the meeting with school officials.
"I can't say too much," he said Wednesday. "I don't know too much. They reached out to me. It seems they want to get this resolved."
During the show, host Matt Lauer said there would be a suspension hearing later in the morning that the parents would miss, and both parents nodded in agreement.
Officials at the Longwood Central School District said Wednesday they could not comment because of student privacy concerns.
Jessica said during the show that her video, which also included an anti-bullying Facebook page, had a disclaimer stating that the bullying victim, who commits suicide, was fictional. Lauer said it should have been simple for the parents to clear up the matter by printing out the Facebook page and showing it to the school.
"I did print it out, and I brought it to them and they still, they didn't really care too much about that," Jody Barba said.
Michael Barba told Lauer that he hoped the matter would be resolved. "All I expect is her to be able to go back to school, erase the suspension, because it was a mistake, and be able to turn in the project," he said.
"This is a great project. There's thousands of people that love it. It can be fixed. This can be fixed, simple," he said.
The Suffolk County Police Department said Tuesday that "no crime has been committed" in the case.
Jessica Barba said she does not understand her suspension. "I don't get it."
Barba said she posted the anti-bullying video May 15 as part of a school project on persuasive speech. The next day, a school official told her she was suspended for a week, beginning May 17, she said.
Although school officials have declined to comment on the suspension, they did say that a parent had notified police about the video.
In the video, Barba portrays a 12-year-old who is bullied in school and online. A caption near the end states the girl committed suicide. The clip opens and closes with a note saying the character is fictional.
Emerging from a meeting with her parents and Longwood school district officials Thursday morning, 15-year-old Jessica Barba said her controversial suspension over an anti-bullying video had been lifted and that she was returning to classes.
Barba, speaking outside the district offices in Middle Island, said the suspension would be removed from her school record and that she will be back at Longwood High School, starting with her second-period science class later in the morning.
Barba said she had no regrets over her video and no hard feelings toward school officials.
"It's a good school, and they took a wrong and turned it into a right," she said.
"All I wanted was to go back to school and my friends and hand in my project."
Standing beside her, her father, Michael, called himself "the proudest father in the world."
The Barbas did not say if the school district apologized. Michael Barba said only that there were "more pressing" matters school officials were dealing with that led to confusion. He did not elaborate.
Longwood High School officials referred questions to the school district. Myra Vaughn, a spokeswoman for the district, declined to confirm whether Barba had been reinstated or whether the district felt it could have handled the matter differently. She said she could not comment about matters involving a child.
Jessica, her mother, Jody, and her father arrived at the school district office in Middle Island shortly after 7 a.m. without speaking to a group of reporters, who were waiting outside the building.
The fictional video, which ends with a student committing suicide over being bullied, was posted May 15 on YouTube. After complaints to school officials by at least one parent, Barba was suspended from school for one week on May 17.
On Wednesday, after appearing on the "Today" show with his wife and daughter, Michael Barba told Newsday of the meeting with school officials.
"I can't say too much," he said Wednesday. "I don't know too much. They reached out to me. It seems they want to get this resolved."
During the show, host Matt Lauer said there would be a suspension hearing later in the morning that the parents would miss, and both parents nodded in agreement.
Officials at the Longwood Central School District said Wednesday they could not comment because of student privacy concerns.
Jessica said during the show that her video, which also included an anti-bullying Facebook page, had a disclaimer stating that the bullying victim, who commits suicide, was fictional. Lauer said it should have been simple for the parents to clear up the matter by printing out the Facebook page and showing it to the school.
"I did print it out, and I brought it to them and they still, they didn't really care too much about that," Jody Barba said.
Michael Barba told Lauer that he hoped the matter would be resolved. "All I expect is her to be able to go back to school, erase the suspension, because it was a mistake, and be able to turn in the project," he said.
"This is a great project. There's thousands of people that love it. It can be fixed. This can be fixed, simple," he said.
The Suffolk County Police Department said Tuesday that "no crime has been committed" in the case.
Jessica Barba said she does not understand her suspension. "I don't get it."
Barba said she posted the anti-bullying video May 15 as part of a school project on persuasive speech. The next day, a school official told her she was suspended for a week, beginning May 17, she said.
Although school officials have declined to comment on the suspension, they did say that a parent had notified police about the video.
In the video, Barba portrays a 12-year-old who is bullied in school and online. A caption near the end states the girl committed suicide. The clip opens and closes with a note saying the character is fictional.
